ING Direct has unveiled a biometric Touch Login for its mobile banking application in a bid to enhance the app experience and its security functionality for customers.

ING Direct has unveiled a biometric Touch Login for its mobile banking application in a bid to enhance the app experience and its security functionality for customers.

A Mobile Identity report released by Telstra earlier this year found that 38 per cent of mobile banking customers were affected by identity theft in the past year, with 62 per cent of financial services executives surveyed acknowledging a problematic trend of under-investment in the areas of security-related capabilities for digital channels.

According to Janelle McGuiness, Head of Digital at ING Direct, the biometric login was introduced in response to the bank’s “fast-growing” number of digital customers.

“Across all Australian banks our customers are the most digitally engaged, with more than 70 per cent carrying out their banking via our app,” she said.

ING Direct’s new Touch Login has been made available to Apple iPhone and iPad users, allowing ING Direct customers to use the fingerprint sensor on their Touch ID capable devices to securely log in to their mobile banking.

In August this year, Suncorp Bank also introduced a biometric login function with mobile banking security seen as a growing concern for Australian banking incumbents, as it continues to grow as a primary channel for banking customers.  

ING Direct findings show that one in three mobile and tablet banking customers use their app at least once a day, compared to internet banking users who are “more likely” to resort to using internet banking only once per week.

“In the past 12 months, the number of customer interactions we’ve experienced through mobile has grown by 90 per cent while online has remained steady,” McGuiness said.

“As this appetite for mobile banking grows we will continue to focus on ensuring our customers’ mobile experience is as simple, straightforward and convenient as possible.”